ENEMIES OF PLANTS. 331 



applied to the trunk about a foot from the 

 ground, allowing the caterpillars to collect below 

 the band, when they may be removed and de- 

 stroyed, or sprayed copiously, and, if need be, 

 repeatedly, with kerosene emulsion. 



5. The Codling-moth (Fig. 120). Comstock 

 says: "This is the best-known and probably 

 the most important insect enemy of the fruit 

 grower." The adult is a tiny gray moth (Fig. 

 120,^). Its front wings are sometimes tinged 

 with pink. These wings have a large brown 

 spot near the edge, crossed by metallic, bronzy 

 bands. 



The eggs are laid each in the blossom end of 

 an apple, just as the petals are falling. In a few 

 days the larva hatches, feeds a little upon the 

 surface of the apple for a few hours or a day- 

 then eats its way into the center of the apple, 

 where we find it as "a. little white worm." 



The larvae may be destroyed before they do 

 any damage by spraying the trees with Paris 

 green or arsenate of lead, just as the blossoms 

 fall, and before or at the time the larvae hatch. 

 At this time the fruit stands with blossom end 

 up, and the poison will reach the place where 

 the larva hatches. It is necessary to repeat this 

 spraying in a few days or a week, the time de- 

 pending upon whether it is dry or rainy weather. 

 A large percentage of the apples which drop pre- 

 maturely will be found to contain these larvae. 



